Queenless Split Questions

[Daisy Knutson]

I conducted my first walk away split on 5/7/26. On Day 8 the queenless split had 5 capped queen cells and 1 uncapped queen cell with a larvae in it.  On Day 15 there were 6 emerged queen cells.  I think I saw one virgin queen and may have heard a queen pipe once.  On Day 20 it rained.  On Day 23 there were no signs of a queen (no eggs) and lots of honey, nectar and some pollen.  As a precaution I placed one frame of eggs and two frames of mostly capped brood in the split.  

What do y'all recommend I do?  Should I continue to wait and see? If so when should I check on the hive again?  Should I get a mated queen? If so, where can I get one near Oakland?

Thanks, 

Daisy

[Robert Silverstein]

You should wait until 6/7/26 and check for signs of a mated queen (eggs and/or larvae).

It’s called a walk away split because you  “walk away” and check it in a month. 

Nonetheless, if the bees have been acting as if they are queen right (calm) when you opened the hive you probably did no harm adding a frame of yourng brood.

Fingers crossed for the 6/7/26 inspection. If there’s no EoQ (evidence of a queen) you could give it an extra week.

Bee well,

Bob🐝🐝🐝

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Alameda County Beekeepers Association" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to the-alameda-county-beekeep...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/the-alameda-county-beekeepers-association/c65da310-b90a-4b27-b13a-7fe076f5c0cbn%40googlegroups.com.

[Nils Joseph Kauffman]

I have been told to check for queen cells around day seven, and, if the cells look viable, do not check again for three weeks. It is bad luck to disturb a virgin queen. (They tend to be shy, get embarrassed, and might fly away)

Of course I have spotted numerous virgin queens over the years, and it is a little embarrassing for me too. Most of the time we both get over it and become friends. 

Nils

--

You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Alameda County Beekeepers Association" group.

To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to the-alameda-county-beekeepers-association+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.

[andrew....@comcast.net]

Swap in a frame of mixed-age open brood at that time.  Either it will help boost the new queen's ramp-up, or it will give the split a second chance starting a new queen.     - A - 

[Daisy Knutson]

Thanks for all the helpful suggestions. Beeing patient and waiting proved worthwhile.  It's official that my split is queen right. Both with brood, eggs and locating her.

Feeling a big win in this humbling beekeeping journey.

Daisy